What are the expectations for Dak Prescott this season?
Broad question, sure. But when former quarterbacks call this a make-or-break year for Prescott, it’s a question worth asking. What would it mean for him to “make” this season? What exactly would “break” look like?
The Cowboys’ franchise quarterback is getting $231 million guaranteed. He has a no-tag clause, a no-trade clause, and a punitive dead cap hit that makes cutting him next year a nonstarter.
And if “make” means Super Bowl or bust? Good luck. This roster has top-end talent, but there are questions about depth, and the schedule is brutal.
So let’s talk about it. What would it take for Prescott to “make” 2025? And if things go sideways, what kind of “break” are we talking about?
Realistic Expectations For Dak Prescott In 2025
What Would It Mean For Dak Prescott To “Make” The 2025 Season?
Let’s start with what “make” actually means, because it won’t be stats. Prescott has thrown for big yards and led the league in touchdown passes. He’s already proven he can deliver regular-season production.
But in Dallas, the real expectations for a quarterback are winning on the biggest stage. Prescott has reached the postseason four times, but the results have been underwhelming: a 2-5 overall record with three home losses. So far, he hasn’t been able to break through. No Super Bowl appearances. No NFC title games. Just heartbreak on repeat in January.
At minimum, this team needs to reach the NFC Championship. But how realistic is that? Both NFC representatives from last year are in the Cowboys’ division! The Eagles are still loaded, and the Commanders got better this offseason. Based on Dallas’ current roster and schedule, a deep playoff run—let alone a Super Bowl—feels like a long shot.
Could an MVP season change anything? Maybe, but probably not. If Prescott puts up huge numbers and leads this team to 12 or 13 wins, the season might be a win. But for Cowboys fans, it’s about rings, and it’s been 30 years since the last one. Short of a championship, the bar for “make” remains unfairly high.
So the truth is, 2025 will be a failure if the Cowboys don’t reach the NFC Championship. Fair or not.
What Would “Break” Look Like?
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Prescott isn’t getting benched—not on a $240 million contract. You’re spending the money, you’re playing the guy getting it. If you’re expecting a dramatic soap opera ending, it won’t come this season. Dallas can’t just cut ties without eating a mountain of dead money. Financially, they’re tied together. For better or worse.
But “break” doesn’t have to mean benched or booted. It can mean the beginning of the end.
Let’s say the Cowboys stumble again. Whether that’s another early playoff exit or a disappointing regular season. If that happens, the noise will crank up to 100. Even if the team can’t move on this offseason, the conversation will shift to when they can.
Would Dallas look to next year’s draft to find Dak’s replacement? Possibly. But unless the season completely implodes, they won’t be drafting in the top ten.
Could they explore a trade? Maybe. It would take Prescott waiving his no-trade clause, and that seems unlikely unless things sour fast. But a split isn’t impossible if both sides feel a change is needed.
There’s also the locker room element. If the team starts to feel like it has hit a ceiling with Prescott, or if the new staff grows frustrated, trust can erode quickly. That’s how long-term partnerships start to crack—quietly, then all at once.
So, what does “break” mean for this year? Probably nothing immediate. A fallout—if one is coming—probably isn’t happening after this year. Regardless of what happens.
It’s Not Make-Or-Break…Yet
It’s impossible to have a normal and honest conversation about Prescott. And nobody cares.
The pressure on Dak Prescott to deliver on expectations is crushing, but calling 2025 a make-or-break season oversimplifies things. The truth lies somewhere in the middle.
If the Cowboys finally break through to the NFC Championship—or even the Super Bowl—Prescott solidifies his place in Dallas. He becomes more than just empty stats. He becomes the guy who delivered Dallas back to glory. That’s the “make.”
But if it’s another flameout, even a statistically dominant season won’t quiet the critics. The calls for change will grow louder, and while the front office can’t move on from him right away, the gears will start turning. That’s the “break.”
2025 may not deliver a final verdict, but it will shape the conversation going forward. For Prescott, this season isn’t do-or-die, but it might be the beginning of the end. Or maybe the start of something special.
